Locker



J. B. O'CONNOR.

LOCKER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, I92].

Patented Dec. '12, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. B.'OCONNOR.

LOCKER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25,, I92

Pgtented- Dec. 12, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Dec. '12, 1222.

JOHN B. OCO'NNOR, OF AU'BORA,,ILLI1 TOIS,

ASSIGNOR TO LYON METALLIC MANUFAC- LOCKER.

' Application filed September 2 T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. OCoNNoR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lockers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lockers, cabinets and the like, and the general object is to provide unusually simple and efficient means for locking the door. In'carrying out my invention I employ a locking bolt, and one of the objects is to provide simple and ef fective means for securing the bolt to the door. I also employ an eye for receiving the lockingbolt, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an especially simple and effective construction of the eye.

I obtain my objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a locker or cabinet embodying my invention, A portion of the housing of the bolt on the door is broken away to better show the construction of the parts.

' Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the door along the plane parallel to the bolt. This plane is indicated by the line 2-2, Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a plan section on the line 3-3,- Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view drawn to an increased scale and showing the bolt in engagement with the eye.

Like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views.

My present invention is intended primarily for use in connection with sheet metal lockers, cabinets, wardrobes, and the like, and it will be understood that for convenience I shall employ the term locker as the equivalent of all such structures. While it is not essential that the entire body of the structure be of sheet metal, I have so illustrated it. Said body consists of top, bottom and side walls 1 and a back 2. According to the present design there is a door frame havin three principal portions, a side strip 5 whic overla s and is spot welded or otherwise secure walls, as best illustrated in Figure 3; a fee to the side and top 6, 1921. Serial No. 503,185.

ing strip 6 which forms the front face of the door frame; a side strip 7, and a jamb strip 8. The jamb strip lies parallel to the plane of the door and forms an abutment for it. The side strip is arranged at right angles to the jamb strip, while the facing strip forms the front surface of the frame. This'design may be modified, but it is one of the characteristics of the invention that the jamb strip 8 and side strip 7 are at substantially right angles to each other, and while they preferably occur at the top, bottom and both sides of the door, they are of special importance at the vertical portion which co-operates with the free edge of the doorthat is, the edge or margin farthest fromthe hinges. The door is pivoted to the door frame by hinges 10, and according to the present design consists of a sheet.

metal front plate 12, a side strip 13 and a j amb strip 14. These parts are so arranged as to form three sides of a hollow square or box section, one advantage of this arrangement being that it affords a marginal stiffening for the door and also imparts an 1 appearance of thickness and substantiality.

A locking bar 20 fits within the quasi housing formed by the parts 14,13, 12, as best shown in Figure 1 and at the left of Figure 3. It has a plurality of slots 21 and is held in .position by headed pins 22. The bar is provided with a plurality of locking bolts 24 which in the present showing are hook-like and integral with the bar. They are adapted to slide into and out of engage ment with bolt eyes 26 which in the form illustrated constitute one of the particular characteristics of my present invention. These bolt eyes occur at the corner between the strips 7 and 8 and are formed of strips which are severed from the rest of themetal the ends. They are bent in the opposite direction so that when viewed from above the parts present the appearance of a hollow square. Differently stated, the included anles face in opposite directions; but it will Fe understoodtha't' the parts may be rounded instead of having approximately rectan- (giular bends. Opposite each bolt eye the oor has an; aperture 28, for accommodat ing t:

at the side but remain integral with it at Any appropriate means may be employed for raising and lowering the locking bar 20. In the present ease I have illustrated a locking lever 30, pivoted upon a fixed fulcrum 31 and at the inner end pivotally attached to a disc 32, controlled by 'means of an external rotatable handle 33. The means for actuating the bolt, however, constitute no particular part of the present invention. v

The operation will now be evident: When it is desired to close and lock the door the locking bar20 is elevated, then the door is closed, the jamb strip 14 of the door contacting the jamb strip 8 of the door frame and the bolt eyes 26 projecting into the openings 28 formed-in the corners of the door. The bar is then lowered, causing the hooks 24 to descend into the eyes which will hold .the door locked. I, wish to call particular attention to certain characteristics of the locking elements. In the first place, as the eyes 26 are integral with the rest of the door frame, it is notonlysimple to make them, but the construction is most rigid and permanent. With spot welding or riveting, imperfect workmanship might occur but with my integral construction danger from this source is eliminated, for no special fastening device is employed. The construction is very strong, for the strip which forms the eye is integral with the sheet metal-throughout the entire width of the strip. Furthermore the eye is secured at both ends and therefore cannot be bent or torn without practically disrupting the entire structure. Another important characteristic is the factthat by making the bar 20 of the full internal width of the marginal frame of the door, the frame itself holds the bar in addition to the holding action of guide pins 22. In other words, the fact that the locking bar makes a sliding fit in its housing gives maximum bearing surface for the bar and also tends to act as a stifi'ener for the door. Of course some of these characteristics may be omitted, accompanied by the loss of their advantages, but in the most complete form of structure they may be all combined in the manner illustrated.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. A locker havinga sheet metal door frame having a side strip adapted to come opposite to the free edge of the door and a jamb strip extending inward at right angles to formv a stop for the door, and a bolt eye located within the bend of the side strip and j amb strip and having a bend facing in the opposite direction, the ends of the bolt eye being secured respectively to the side strip and jamb strip.

2. A locker having a sheet metal door frame having a side strip adapted to come plate, a side strip and a opposite to the free edge of the door, and a amb strip extending inward approximately at right angles to form a stop for the door, and a bolt eye severed at the sides but not at the ends from the metal of the door frame, the strip having a bend which is opposite to the bend of the jambstrip and side strip.

3. A locker having a sheet metal door frame with an eye formed therein, the metal of the eye consisting of a strip cut at the sides but not at the ends,- from the metal of the frame and pressed inward from it, and a door having a locking element adapted to enter the eye for holding the door closed.

4. A locker having a door having a front plate, a side plate, and a j amb strip forming three sides of a hollow square, and a locking bar mounted within the enclosure,- a door frame and a, projecting element carried by the door frame and extending inward therefrom and adapted to be engaged by the locking bar the door frame having an opening adapted for the reception of said projecting element.

5. A locker having a door having a front jamb strip, forming three sides of a hollow square, and a locking bar mounted within the enclosure and adapted to slide upon all three internal surfaces, a door frame and a projecting element carried by the door frame and extending inward therefrom and adapted to be gaged by the locking bar. the door frame having anopening adapted for the reception of said projecting elements.

7. A locker having a sheet metal door frame having a side strip adapted to come opposite to the free edge of the door, and a j amb strip extending inward approximately at right angles to form a stop. for the door, a. bolt eye severed at the sides but not at the ends from the metal of the door frame, the strip having a bend which faces oppositely to the bend of the jamb strip and side strip, a door having a front plate,'side strip and jamb strip forming three sides of a hollow square, and a locking bolt mounted within said square and adapted to slide upon the internal surface of the j amb strip of the door to move into and out of engagement with said eye.

8. A locker having a sheet metal door frame having a side strip adapted to come opposite to the free edge of the door, and a amb strip extending inward approximately I a bolt eye severed at the sides but not at the said square and adapted to slide upon' all ends from the'metal of the door frame, the three of the internal surfaces of said square strip having a bend which faces oppositely 'to move intoand out of engagement with 10 to the bend of the jamb strip and side strip, said eye. 1

a door having a. front plate, side strip and In witness whereof, I have hereunto subjamb strlpv forming three sides of a hollow scribed my name. 7 square, and a locking bolt mounted within JOHN B. OCONNOR. 

